Train-order annunciator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. T. CRAB'IREE.

TRAIN ORDBR- ANNUNGIATOR.

No. 480,073. Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

al; wf y ATTORNEYS,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. T. CRA-BTREE. TRAIN ORDER ANNUNGIATOR;

Patented Aug'. 2, 1892-.

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W/T/I/ESSES NITED STATES ATENT Finca.

TRAIN-ORDER SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters ANNUNCIATOR.

Patent No. 480,073, dated August 2, 1892.

Application tiled October 15, 1891. Serial No. 408,743. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEONARD TRACY GRAB- TREE, of Embarrass, in the county of lVaupaca and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improved Train-Order Annunciator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for indicating to engineers and conductors of railroads that train-orders await delivery at stations on the line of road which have been sent by telegraph from a main station.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction of the train-order annunciator for which Patent No. 448,125 was granted to me, dated March 10, 1891. In said patented invention a casing is shown wherein a series of slides are supported in parallel horizontal planes which are movable independently, each slide being marked with a numeral or other symbol that when exposed be fore an aligning aperture in the front wall of the casing by manipulation of t-he slide bearing said numeral will indicate the number of a train or engine that is to receive orders. The annunciator-case of the patented device also contains a vertical vsliding gravity-bar, which is held elevated by insertion of a pencil through its upper end, which style or pencil it is imperatively required that the operator shall use in writing all messages received on the relay or telegraph instrument.

To permit elevation of the gravity-bar, all indicating-slides are moved away from the sight-holes in the casing front wall, so that no orders will thus be indicated, and at the same time the circuit between the line-station and main station will be closed, so as to permit the free transmission of dispatches to the linestation from the main oiiice.

lVhen orders are sent, the operator at the receiving-station must use the style that holds the gravitybar elevated to copy the dis/patch, which by its removal from the bar allows the latter to drop, and this cuts out the relay from the main line until a visual signal is set to notify trainmen that orders await an approaching train, the act of setting said signal serving to close the circuit, so that the operator may receive amessage.

The present invention contemplates additional features of improvement whereby an audible signal will be provided which will automatically operate to notify trainmen that orders await them within the station-office in case the visual signal that is also provided has been unnoticed.

The improvements, furthermore, will indicate to a train-dispatcher in charge at a main officeif the station-operatoris alert at his post when a dispatch has been sent with regard to moving trains, and also if he complies with rules as to manipulation of the train-order mechanism, so as to properly receive and notify trainmen with regard to orders that may await delivery at the station.

To these ends my invention consists in certain features ot' construction and combinations of parts, as is hereinafter described, and pointed outinthe claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a front elevation of the annunciator-casing broken transversely and having the front wall removed, showing interior parts and circuit-Wires connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus, parts being shown in section and others broken away. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, parts being shown broken away and their adjustments by dotted lines. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detached sectional detail showing the construction of a circuit-closer for a signal-bell. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a front view of a modified construction of the current-changer from that shown in Fig. 2.

The annunciator-case A is shown broken away, removing a middle portion and also some of the interior parts, said removed portions being fac-similes of others that are shown. A rectangular form is given to the case A, and within itthegravityebar B is held to slide vertically by a loose engagement of its -end portions with aligning apertures TOO formed in the top andlower walls ot' said case. The upper part of the gravity-bar B slides through a boss a', that projects above and upon the top wall ct, and the lower end portion b, that similarly engages the lower wall, is rounded and reduced in diameter, producing a shoulder at Il', sufficient length being given to the cylindrical portion b to allow a proper longitudinal movement of the gravitybar. Parallel with the gravity-bar B a releasing slide-bar C is loosely engaged at its ends with the top and lower walls of the case A, said end portions having a cylindrical form of reduced diameter. On the upper end of the slide-bar C, that projects aproper distance above the top wall a, a button-head d2 is secured, which limits the depression of the bar, and the shoulder a3, that engages theinner side of the case-top wall, determines its upward movement, which latter is effected by a spiral spring c, that encircles the lower cylindrical portion c of the slide-bar and engages the shoulder c2 thereon. Transversely of the casing A a series of similar indicatorplates d are supported to slide in parallel planes. One of said planes is shown in position in Fig. 1. The indicator-plates d each rest on a cross-strip cZ,that is secured within the case A, which strips have their thickness reduced on the portion below the indicatorplates to equal that of the latter, and thus adapt the strips to receive each a pusher-bar cl2, whereon a plate-spring d3 is secured by one end, its free end projecting upwardly to engage with ratchet-teeth d4, cut in the lower edge of the indicator-plate it bears upon. 'lhe pusher-bars d2 each rest on a base-strip d5, so as to be permitted a reciprocal movement that is limited inwardly by the impinge of its end on the shoulder d5, formed on the crossstrip d. The other end portion Z7 of the pusher-bar projecting through the side wall of the case A is reduced diametrically and rounded to receive a spiral spring da, which engages the button-head (Z9 on the outer end of the pusher-bar, and by its expansive force holds the pusher-bar against the side wall of the case with which it is engaged.

On the top of each indicator-plate d a pullbar e is securely located in a longitudinal groove, said bars aiding to retract the plates if draft force is applied to their outer ends.

The gravity-bar B is made thicker than the slide-bar C, considered from front to rear of the case A, and the latter-named piece slides through the cross-strips CZ and base-strips d5 behind the indicator-plates, as represented in Fig. 1.

At proper intel-vals a series of pins c are secured in the slide-bar C, which pins each have a bearing upon the upper surface of a plate-spring d3 and work in a vertical slot made in the cross-strip d', so that a depression of the slide-bar C will release the ends of the plate-spring from the ratchet-cut teeth in the indicator-plates cl and allowany one of said plates to be adjusted transversely of the case A and locate any one of the numerals on its face in front of a sight-hole f, formed in the front wall A of the case A, there being such a sight-aperture formed therein foreach indicator-plate.

Vtith the exception of the boss a on case A and the formation given to the ends of the slide-bar C and the provision of the spiral spring c, which causes an elevation of said bar, the parts so far described are similar to parts exhibited in Patent No. 448,125.

At a proper point from the top end of the gravity-bar B a transverse hole is made for the introduction of a style B', which is in form adapted for use to write manifold copies of a telegraph-message, being in pencil form, the introduction of which style will hold the bar in elevated adjustment.

Upon the bracket-arm g, that projects from the side wall of the case A within and rearward of the gravity-bar B, a cylindrical dashpot D is supported, which has a small perforation in each of the heads, as at g in Fig. 1, and within the dash-pot a pistou-head g2 is located that is attached upon one end of a bent rod g3. The latter-named piece, projecting through the upper head of the dash-pot, is secured by its upper end to the gravity-bar and is adapted, in conjunction with the piston-head and cylindrical pot, to cushion the movement of the bar B in either direction of its travel. Below the bracket-arm g an elastic metal plate E is aiixed by one end on a binding-post h, that is secured to the lower wall of the case A, and projects through it a sufficient distance to sustain the plateE upon its upper end slightly above the upper end of another binding-post h', that is located near to the post h and projects in a similar manner through the lower wall of the case.

The spring-plate E should be a good electric conductor, and is given a proper length to allow it to receive the lower cylindrical portion b of the gravity-bar B, that passes loosely through a hole made in the plate near its free end.

On the exterior of the side wall of the case A, that supports the bracket arm g, and above the latter, a binding-post h2 is affixed and projects within the case, and on its inner end a metal conductor strip h3 is clamped byits lower end, the upper terminal of the strip being located on short stud 7L", whereon the lower end of a contact-spring t' is placed, these pieces being lapped and held on the stud by a screw or other means. The upper end of the spring t' has electrical contact with the lower end of a conductor-strip fi', thatis held in position by an adjacent stud t2, which projects inwardly from the side of the case A, the upper terminal of the strip t" being secured upon the inwardly-extended end portion of a binding-post 3, that is inserted through the side wall of the case near its top wall a. The contact-spring t' is reinforced by a plate-spring fr, which is secured to the inner surface of the case side wall by IOC IIO

one end, the free end of said reinforce-spring pressing against the spring i, so as to insure the latter having a positive contact with the end of the strip i.

On the edge of the gravity-bar B that is opposite the conductor-strip z" a series of preferably V-shaped notches are out, which are so spaced apart as to produce intervening projections k, the spaces between which are graduated to represent some of the dots and dashes of the Morse alphabet.

Upon the upper end of the contact-spring t' a finger-bar 7c is attached by one end, the other end portion of said bar being loosely supported by a swing-bar k2, that is jointed at its upper end to the inner side ofthe casewall a and by its lower end to the finger-bar, as shown in Fig. l. The terminal 7c3 of the finger-bar 71; is shaped to freely enter the spaces between the tooth-like projections 7c on the gravity-bar B and traverse the same when the gravity-bar is allowed to fall, thus by a longitudinal reciprocation of the fingerbar causing a make and break of contact between the contact-spring t' and the end of the conductor-strip i.

Near the shoulder b on the gravity-bar B an electric contact-bar b2 is inserted through the bar projecting on each side, and to the end that is nearest to the binding-post h2 a wire b3 is joined, that is extended to have connection with the inner end of the post named.

There is a binding-post c3 inserted through the lower wall of the case A, and upon its upper end a bell-crank lever F is pivoted to rock, the terminal c4 of its short arm being opposite the inner end of a binding-post c5, that is extended from without through the side wall of the case that is engaged by the ends Z7 of the pusher-bars cl2.

The long arm of the bell-crank lever F pro- ,ects toward the gravity-bar B, and when the latter is in an elevated condition the leverterminal cG rests upon a projecting pin b4, that is a short distance removed from and below the contact-bar b2.

The long arm ofl the bell-crank lever F is pressed upward by a spring G, that-is seated on the bottom ofthe caseA and secured thereto by one end, the tension of the springcausing the terminal c4 ofthe short arm to impinge upon the post c5 when the gravity-bar Bis elevated and so retained by the style B.

All of the binding-posts and studs that form supports for parts, as described, are suitably insulated from the case-walls to prevent transmission of electricity from one to the other through said walls, which may be of metal or other material.

The annunciator-case A is secured in an upright position within the telegraph-office of a way-station, and one of these is supplied for each station to which train-orders are to be sent. In the oiiice is also placed a receiving telegraph-instrument I, a switchboard J, a current-changer K, and, preferably, a circuit-closer L, or the latter may be stably supported on the outside near the'oiice. A signal-bell M is also placed at a proper elevation near the railroad-track exterior of the office, and a device to operate the circuit-closer and cause the bell to ring is placed near to the track, so as to be moved by car-wheels of a train. These parts will be hereinafter described and their co-operative action explained.

bracket-l ugs n3,thatproj ect from the front face of the block. The lever 'n' is weighted at its lower end and is furnished with a hook 'n4 at its upper end. On a projecting end of the rock-shaft n2 a crank a5 is secured. Upon the rear side of the base-block n, which is recessed, two contact-plates o are secured therein, which plates lie parallel to each other and to the top and bottom edges of the block proj ecting from one side edge n of the base-block toward the opposite edge a7. The bindingposts 0 o2 are projecting from the front side of the base-block n, through it, and arev each secured to one of the plates o, said posts being located near the edge niof the base-block. Near the side edge a7 a binding-post 03 is inserted through the block n, and on its rear end a contact-plate 04 is aflxed. Said post being rotatable in the block has a short arm o5 projected from its side, which arm is pivoted at its free end to a link-bar o6, that is secured in like manner at its lower end to the outer end of the crank ns. The lever n is held normally projected away from the base-block 'n by a spring p, and the attached parts are so adjusted that contact-plate o4 will be rocked to have contact with the upper plate 0, on which is the post 0, when the lever is thus projected, as shown by full lines in Figs. 2 and It is designed that the base-block n be placed near to a pendent cord O, which is shown broken, but in service extends to be attached toa sig- Y nal-blade or other device of like character that is located exterior of the telegraph-office, near or over the railroad-track, so as to indicate orders awaiting within the office, if said blade (not shown) is in a projected condition, which will be effected by a draft on the cord and the hooked attachment of its ring or loop O on the hook n4 of the lever n.

When the visual signal, that may be asemaphore-blade or a flag, has been displayed by the means stated, the lever n will be rocked into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the contact-plate 04 will then be moved so as to bear upon and have electrical connection with the lower spring-plate 0, to which the post 02 is affixed.`

The switchboard .l is ofusual'form and is IOO IIO

connected to main-line wires N at q, and from one post q on the board a wire P is extended to connect said board with the post o3 on the the current-changer K, a conductor-wire P', that is attached to another binding-post q2, extending to the binding-post i3 on the annunciator-case A.

On the wall Rot the telegraph-cnice which is nearest the railroad-tracks S S oron some support exterior of and removed from said office a circuit-closing device L is secured, which consists of a box or similar support that will serve as a base, whereon the binding-posts r o" are fixed. One post o" has an armature-bar r2, pivoted to its lower end, so that the bar may swing downwardly and away from the lower end ot' the other post r, on which it will bear if rocked upwardly. A spring-plate r3 is secured upon and projects beyond the free end of the armature-bar r2, and near the outer extremity of the plate a depending rod oiis attached by its upper end, said rod having a spring r on it that engages with one end the lower wall of the box on which the posts r o" are placed and with the other end a collar on the rod, whereby the armature-bar will be depressed when the spring is free to act.

Above the circuit-closer L or at any other preferred point a signal-bell M, adapted to be rung by an electric current, is located. One post s on the bell has the terminal of a wire U secured to it, said wire having its other end connected with the binding-post 7L on the annunciator-case A, the other post s on the bell M being electrically connected wit-h the bindingpost r on the circuitcloser by a wire U.

A local battery T is provided to work the apparatus, and from the post r on the circuit-closer L a wire Vis extended to join one pole of said battery, the other pole having a wire V in connection, which wire extends to join the binding-post h on the annunciatorcase A.

The binding-post o on the current-changer K is connected bythe wire W with post c3, and from the post c5 on the case A a wire X extends to the post u on the sounder I, and a wire X connects said post n with the post o2 on the current-changer K. Between the post h2 on the annunciator-case A and the post u on the sounder I a conductor-wire Y is extended. A horizontal shaft S2, supported in suitable bearings, so as to allow it to rock, extends from a point adjacent to the lower end of the upright rod 0'4 outwardly and close to the rail S of the track, and on the inner end a crank-arm 'u is secured, which latter has its pin fv loosely connected with the lower end of the rod r4. Upon the other extremity of the rock-shaft S2 an arm w is formed and lies adjacent to the track-rail S and is adapted to receive the impact of a flange on a car-wheel or truck-wheel on a locomotive, the arm being preferably provided with a head-plate fw', whereon the wheel-iiange will bear.

The arrangement of parts just describedis such that the spring T5, in normal condition, will hold the crank-arms t rocked downwardly and the arm w inclined upwardly so that pressure on the latter will elevate the crank-arm c and the rod r4, and thus close the circuit between the battery T and bell M.

The elevated adj ustmcnt of the gravity-bar B will cause the short arm ot' the bell-crank lever F to electrically connect with the post c5 and bring the posts c3 c5 into connection, also, which will establish a connection with the switchboard J through the upper contactplate o, contact-plate o4, post o3, and wire P. In this position, the train-order signal not being elevated, the circuit is from J to 03, through P, thence to post c3, through plates o", o, post o', and wire WV, from post c5 to post n on the sounder I` through wire X, thence through the relay to post n', thence by wire Y to post h2, thence through conductorstrip 7b3, springstrip t', and strip e" to post 713, and thence through wire P to the switchboard J. When the gravity-bar B is lowered, the circuit is through the wire P, plates o4 and o, post o', wire WV, post c3, the long arm of lever F, bar b2, wire b3, plates h3, t', and t', and spring 1?* to post i3, and by the wire P to the switchboard J. The circuit between the battery l and bell M is open at 1", as before stated, when the arm -w is not pressed down, and there is a break of electrical connection between the battery and bell produced while the gravity-bar B is held elevated by the engagement therewith of the style B. Consequently there will not be an audible signal given on the bell until the bar B is in lowered adjustment, which will cause the plate E to bear upon the post h,as indicated in Fig. 2. The fall of the gravity-bar B will break the connection of the bell-crank arm with the post e5, and thus cut out the sounder I until the lever n is rocked and held in position bythe cord O, that is then drawn upon,so as to elevate the signal (not shown) over the railroadtrack.

In some systems of train-signaling the pulling of a cord or vibration ot' a lever will set the signal to indicate safety in place of danger. Should it be desired to employ such a method of signaling in conjunction with this improved train-orderannunciator,the currentchanger K is slightly altered in arrangement of its parts, as will be seen by referring to Fig. 6. The change consists in extending the shaft n2 toward the edge nl of the base-block n and placing the crank a5 on this extended portion, so that the link-bar oG will be allowed to pivotally connect the pin of said crank with the short arm o5, which latter is projected oppositely or toward the edge n. ot the bascblock fn.

When the parts of the current-changer are arranged as just described, the rocking of the lever n into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 will rotatably move the contactplate o4, so as to connect it with the post o',

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cate when the bar B is lowered, and for the purpose of rendering such signals distinct the dash-pot D is of service, as it cushions the fall of the bar in anobvious manner, the speed of descent being regulated by the size given to tthe orifice g in the bottom wall of the dashpo Each oiiice on theline will have aseparate alphabetic symbol to designate it. Hence the automatic sending of such a signal, as explained, will enable the train-dispatcher at the main ohice to know when the way-station operator removes his style, and as the operator cannot receive a message until the visual signal is displayed, there is a doublesafeguard afforded to prevent a t-rain or engine from being run past a station where there are orders to be delivered.

The indicator-plates d are to be set for the right train, and the correct numeral thus exposed at a sight-hole f to indicate the number of orders awaiting delivery to an engineer or conductor of the signaled train or engine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a train-order annunciator, the combination, with a battery and a telegraph receiving-instrument, ot a train-order recording and indicating device, a current-changer that will hold a visual signal exposed, a signal-bell, electric connections between the battery telegraph-instrument, recording-device bell, and current-chan ger, and a normally-open circuit` closer electrically connected to the bell, battery, and order-recorder, that will he mechanically closed by impact of a car-wheel, substantially as described.

2. In a train-order annunciator, the combination, with a battery, a switchboard, mainline wires, a receiving-instrument, a train-order recorder and indicator, and wires connecting these devices electrically, of an electrically-connected signal-bell,anormallyopen circuit-closer, and a mechanical device connecting the circuit-closer with a rock-shaft and treadle-arm thereon, that will be depressed by impinge of wheels on a locomotive or car, close the circuit, and ring the bell, substantially as described.

3. In a train-order annunciator, the combination, with a battery, a switchboard, mainline Wires, a receiving-instrument, a train-order recorder and indicator, a curren t-changer, and wires connecting all these devices electrically, of a cord or other operating device for a visual signal, which may be connected to the lever of the current-changer and hold it rocked, a normally-open circuit-closer, a signal-bell, wires to connect the bell with the circuit-closer, battery, and order-recorder, and a mechanical device which will close the circuit and cause the bell to ring when engaged by the wheel of a locomotive or car, substantially as described.

t. In a train-order-annunciator apparatus, a current-changer comprising a rocking lever on a base-block, a rock-shaft supporting the lever, a crank-arm thereon, two separated spring contact-plates supported on bindingposts, a shifting contact-plate which is secured on a rotatable binding-post and that may engage either spring-plate, an arm on said post, and a link-bar loosely connecting this arm with the crank-arm of the rock-shaft, substantially as described.

5. In a train-order-annunciator apparatus,

a recording and exhibiting device comprising a case, movable indicator-slides therein having numerals that may be exposed before sight-holes in the front of the case, a vertically-adjustable gravity-bar, means to move the indicator slide-plates longitudinally, a rocking bell-crank lever supported on abinding-post that will engage its short arm with another post when the gravity-bar is elevated, a contact-bar on the gravity-bar that will engage the long arm of the bell-crank when the gravity-bar is depressed, a bindingpost bearing a spring contact-plate that Will be depressed when the gravity-bar falls, and another binding-post that will be engaged by the spring contact-plate when the gravitybar falls, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a case, a gravitybar adapted to slide vertically in the case, a removable style that supports the bar elevated, a series of separatedprojections formed on one side ofthe gravity-bar, and a dash-pot device connected with the bar, of a finger-bar supported to swing and loosely engage the projections on the gravity-bar with one end, and a contact-plate that is actuated to make and break a closed electric circuit bythe other end of the finger-bar when the gravity-bar falls, substantially as described.

7. In a train-order annunciator, the combination, with a case having an apertured front Wall, indicator slide-plates numbered in series which when slid will expose a number before an aperture, a pusher-bar for each slide-plate, and a spring on each pusher-bar that engages its free end with teeth on the edge of a slide-plate, of a vertical slide-bar, pins on said bar that will compress the springs on the pusher-bars when the slide-bar is depressed, and a spiral spring below on the slide-bar that holds it normally elevated, substantially as described.

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8. In a train-order-annunciator apparatus, l

the combination, with a signal-bell, abattery, an annunciator-case, a gravity-bar vertically movable in the Case, a binding-post on the case supportingr a Contact spring-plate that is loosely engaged by the lower end of the gravity-bar, another adjacent binding-post Whereon the eonfaobplate will be imposed when the gravity-bar falls, a cirouitcloser Comprising a box, two binding-posts thereon, to one of which a circuit-closing bar is hinged by one end and adapted to bear on the other post when swung upwardly, and connectingwires between the bell binding-posts, battery, and posts on the annunoiator-ease, of a rod depending from the circuit-closing bar, a spiral spring on said rod which holds it and the circuit--elosingbar normally depressed, a rockshaft below having a crank on one end conneeted with the depending rod, and an arin on the other end of the rook-shaft near a track-rail, which Will be depressed and close the circuit when impnged upon by a oarwheel, substantially as described.

LEONARD T. CRABTREE.

'Witnessesz XVM. CASHMAN, E. D. CASHMAN. 

